Gallery visits

Having failed to regularly update my online record of outings  it may seem that I've not being taking in cultural highlights (if you follow me on Twitter you'll know that this is not the case).

Tate Modern shop - nice gifts

Recently apart from my CityLit course I've looked at Edward Burne-Jones at Tate Britain and foud much there of interest (I liked the Stained Glass for example) - the visit encouraged me to research a little on the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood a group that Burne-Jones was a follower of, I'd not previously recognised the significance and importance of the direction they took British art - my intention in the future is to more often  do  some 'homework' prior to cultural visits  - but without hopefully removing the initial impact of what I'm seeing.

A Work by Ed Jones (also  Known as Edward Burne-Jones)

Not Cheerful.

Also we've been to Tate Modern to do some shopping and extend our membership while we were there we took a look at an area/school of Art that is perhaps beneath others radar as it was mine - it was an area of activity in between the wars Germany now labelled Magic Realism



 

New Works

A work about something

Lethaby Gallery

Less mainstream visits have included the UAL Lethaby Gallery in the re vitalised Coal Yard area near St Pancras station.

Books (and other stuff) of 2017 - including the timely Middle England

Books

I'm currently reading one of those on Barack Obama's list - the excellent (and optimistic) Factfulness  others read include Jonathan Coe's 'Middle England' and found it offered some humour and insight on what for many is the issue of the day (perhaps the decade?).

Waterstones

Christmas (and the sales) have supplied me with new reading material including Art book, 1001 Paintings by Stephen Farthing and a book (with commentary) on Pliny The Youngers' letters - don't expect it'll be an easy reader but not all good things are.

Music/CD/Film

Not been a year in which I've bought much music but did get McCartney's latest  - Egypt Station (which is to my mind workmanlike but not as good as New  - I do like the cover though!) and we did go and see The Human League (yet again) also a rare visit to the Cinema was to see The Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody (which to me was 'too' Hollywood to the point of parody).

Philosophy and Religion (2)

On to the next topic which is labelled 'Supernatural Beings' which reflects on how Monotheistic religions  (like Islam and Judaism) have accommodated earlier multi-God faiths  by  the (near) worship of Angels and Saints. 

Reflections are worth looking at..

Time has been passing and I've failed to look at what's going on personally, no journal or pictures for a few weeks - it's time to rectify it and look back and forward.

I will try to restart and perhaps catch-up (where appropriate).

First

Christmas (the challenges)

Nice to have a present

Christmas has to me felt even more interminable than usual -it does pressure many (me not so much), the cost is both emotional and financial to those who can often feel unreasonably and unseasonably strained.

Pre 'The Big Day' had a bit of a tidy up and found presents from last year that were still hanging around and I expect High Street Charity shops will be on the end of a bonanza of stuff - seems maximum consumption may have been reached in some of the  western/developed economies.

 

[Looking at this I find a reminder of what government should do to get their domestic economies' moving (should they choose to) which is to give money to the poor who will spend rather than the rich who will save.

   

Speaking to people I meet the reports of how much they enjoy their winter holidays - have been surprised that some have developed strategies that help them manage their particular issues - and goodness knows what those who take their cues from Social Media will feel at their perceived inadequacies.

 

Christmas (the payback)

Well to be fair it isn't all bad news  - we (or many of us anyway)  do get a chance to spend time away from the treadmill and have a bit of a digital detox.  

A time for 'kids' of all ages in Portsmouth

Not real snow..

Of course Christmas (the gift giving bit anyway) is for children and there is pleasure there in gifts, games and too many sweets.

 

We had a weekend in Portsmouth to buy some gifts (in theory) and there are Christmas markets all over the place at this time of year.

Of course the way that Christmas runs into New Year also lets us reflect what we have done and how we might improve in the New Year.

For my part I'm back on the Philosophy Trail (see below) and also going to try and write a story.

Looking Back

Am happy to report I've made some efforts to improve my diet (less Meat and Sweets) and (perhaps) less alcohol.

Looking Forward -Philosophy/Religion  (The Natural World)

A couple of years back I worked through a Marcus Weeks book and I did start  another (similar one) called  'Religion in Minutes' which I'll  try to work through again)- I'm now much drawn to Stoicism and would recommend  subscribing to Daily Stoic. 

 So the first thought/ subject is The Natural World - as Man moved to group living and sometimes had excess he/she became able to spend time working out more about existence, life was dominated by nature and  the heavens appeared mysterious - society looked for order and existence narratives.

Media

Sad to hear that Sister Wendy - Art expert has died, yesterday I listened to her (and also E H Gombrich) editions of Desert Island Discs - both inspirational and serious people, I hope to take some time to follow similar directions to them and read my copy of The Story of Art - Sister Wendy spoke of how she used to read 2 books every day!

Me

Photo's as before on Twitter daily

Not my taste but still worthwhile (CityLit 100 western Paintings)

Last week we were again at V&A looking at many (I suppose) alternatives to painting.

Some were good - like the Intarsia Panel credited to Fra Raffaele da Brescia  - this is an example of Trick of the eye/Trompe-l'œil.

Although the reliefs were very much beyond my taste (perhaps they inspired Jeff Koons?) there are plenty of things to note there.

Here are 3 works that I don't like!

The Annunciation by Giovanni della Robbia

Altarpiece the assumption of the virgin

The Ferruci Altarpiece

Klimt Schiele at RA

Now at the RA

So as well as 100 years since the end of the First World War it's a 100 years since the death of Austrian artists Klimt (at 56) and Schiele (at just 28).

The RA is holding an exhibition of drawings of the two artists in Piccadilly and it's proving (from my visit anyway)  to be pretty well attended.

Klimt and Schiele were
both involved in Secession group.

The drawings further reveal Klimt as a fine draughtsman.

Klimt could draw 

I enjoyed looking at Klimt's work (paintings) previously but had not realised how sexually charged his work  (and Schiele's) was - the artists were known to each other (and both were involved with Secession group)  and it seems influenced each others work.

This was a poster from Klimt 

Schiele in particular was associated with the Expressionists' School - following the exhibition I took a look at the recent BBC documentary (Dangerous Desires) on Schiele - certainly his lifestyle and work still seems contemporary, much of the work is quite erotic and confrontational.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty versus Extremism

Chatham House - famed for its' rules.

This week I also went to Chatham House (my first time there) to see a Documentary project that a friend who I used to work with in France had edited. The programme was about ‘Extremism in former Soviet states’ and there were lots of academic people there to discuss it.


For some subjects TV is not always the best/easiest medium to use to present a phenomena and I feel that there are a multitude of elements involved in how and why people are 'radicalised'  - much is about the conditions that minorities struggle with and it seems often there's a link between a feeling of being marginalised or 'on the fringes'. 

Noah Tucker -Senior Editor

Little in the programme showed (save for the pictures) of how dramatic the change in fortunes for the area since the end of the Soviet rule.

After the session I was I must say I was surprised at how dominated the area was in fact by the Muslim faith although many in the documentary described themselves as moderate (many people living in the area drink alcohol for example)-

Here is quite a useful piece that does supply some history to a problem that is also apparent in Russia and it also helps us understand why a US funded broadcaster might choose to pay some attention to the issue (some US terrorists have roots in Uzbekistan)

Introducing the topic

More Saints at The National Gallery

Saint Sebastian 

This week we (CityLit Art students as part of a 100 paintings course) were looking again at ‘Saints’ – it’s been quite a theme so far .


 I liked the attached Donne Triptych by Hans Memling (around 1478) , the way the hinged sections were constructed made for interesting perspective (like on the floor) and showed artists great skills.

A Triptych by Memling.

 While I was not particularly happy with the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian - 1475 (by brothers Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo) – it is far too obviously symmetrical for my tastes and the viewing needs to be from lower and further away.


On the other hand I really did like ‘Christ crucified’ (also 1475) by Antonello da Massina -which is if anything even more symmetrical!

Add caption

It is quite interesting as the group begin to get to know each other, we’ve got 20 weeks together and I think it will be interesting to see how that goes– I find with people that I meet often my first judgements are not always 100% right–


It is a varied group (as you’d expect in London), all with their own stories, one person I was chatting with yesterday was a German woman who has lived in UK for about 25 years and has just taken, like  a UK citizenship test (at her expense)  -think away from the ‘Art’ Brexit will continue to be a theme.

Next appointment is a return to the V&A

Toasters and Nick talks about Picasso

I was listening to a rather fascinating BBC radio programme called  'The Sympathy of Things'  (there's a second part this week) and heard about a project undertaken by Thomas Thwaites to build a Toaster pretty much from scratch

Thomas's TED talk about it is insightful and  amusing (Thomas also had a project 'living as a goat') certainly gives some focus to the fortunate times we find ourselves in.

PICASSO

Nick Pearson knows his Picasso

The previous  Monday Nick Pearson at Orchard Café (OPEN Ealing) set himself the very ambitious target of covering Picasso's works in a single 2 hour lecture.


In fact reflecting on the artist my view is that he was an example of where the Artist is greater than his works - the following day I was at London's National Gallery and marvelling at Van Eyck's  The Arnolfini Portrait - I'm not sure I've seen or heard of anything by Picasso that (for me) rivals this.

The talk made me dig out a book Picasso's Picassos  I got it (I think) as a teenager it's about 50 years old!

A book from my collection

National Gallery -CityLit 100 paintings (Oil is struck)

Julia tells us more about the Arnolfini 

Well we (a mixed bunch of largely retired types on CityLit Art course )  had a week off for 'half term' but back moving through the years (and countries) as we find out more of the European Art story.

The good news is that we had less religiosity and more 'real life' with the added bonus of Oil paints.

Oil offers the artist the chance to create colour with far more flexibility than (egg) tempera  and in the north of Europe painting on wood was far more practical than the walls that were often the base of works in the south.

[Here is a video about oil painting in Venice]

Although European artists did not use oil extensively until the 15th Century recent discoveries in Afghanistan have uncovered work by 7th century  Buddhists who worked in oils.
(Oil is the base that pigments are suspended in)

We were again in the National Gallery and to me it seemed slightly less crowded than of late - apart from around 'The Arnolfini Portrait' by Jan Van Eyck.

I've looked at this painting a few times both with a 'guide' and by myself -it bares repeated analysis far more than many  paintings - and the narrative complements the skills that are showcased.

There are a number of videos that interrogate this work - Sister Wendy's is one of my favourites.

Another painting we took a look at was 'The Exhumation of Saint Hubert' by Rogier van der Weyden

 The Exhumation of Saint Hubert
by Rogier van der Weyden

This too was an oil painting but it does not have the  brilliance of Van Eyck's work.


The painting is about him being exhumed (dug out)  from the ground - Hubert was the Saint of Hunters - who became virtuous after losing his wife in childbirth and an encounter with a Deer.


[I have realised through the studies of Art that many Saints in many paintings where Christ is often featured may not reflect 'Historical Jesus' as the saints were alive at a later time - this is perhaps more about Catholicism than Christianity.]

POLITICS

Budget earlier in the week not a great deal to recommend it, little done to address  poor UK productivity - Phil Hammond (like his predecessor George Osborne)  did some fine work politically increasing the impression of a split at top of Labour between Corbyn and McDonald and implying all is well with UK PLC.

Well done to former Tory Sports Minister Tracy Crouch for showing some courage in resigning over delay in introducing a reduction to the maximum bet on those Fixed Stakes Machines found in Betting shops (apparently there are around 2 people a day in the UK taking their own lives  as a result of gambling addiction problems).

Photo-month (or Months)

On Monday I met with Jacqueline who was on a Photo exhibiting course with me last year to view some of the exhibits dotted around East London as part of Photomonth (it actually seems to be running until the end of November).

It was an interesting day - some disappointments (many places closed on a Monday) but also the pleasure of looking with another person interested in visual imagery (and much more) provided an extra layer.


Jacqueline is, it seems to me  an example of someone who is trying to lead a good and ethical life  - she is a vegan (and has been for many years) and a ( I think) a Socialist too.

She has an idea what Photography can do too as does Larry Herman

Larry's Notebook exhibition

The Flag as it is rarely hung.

We had lunch at an Ethiopian stall at we had lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant/stall called Merkamo in Old Spitalfields market

women based

One of the best venues we visited was

This reminded me of Edward Hopper

It was actually good to be in the Shoreditch area and even away from Photomonth the area is  full of life (and of art).

Art without venues is the order of the day 

of expression

A message 

Some of the weeks so far .. (including The National Gallery in London)

I'm not sure that it's a good sign that I'm so far behind on reporting what I've been up to - anyway here's something of a catch-up.

What a lovely sky and so much going on in the square

The 4th Plinth -
The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist,

On Tuesday it was part two of the 100 Paintings course and we met at The National Gallery - it really does stand so well in Trafalgar Square (by the way the 4th Plinth has another fascinating work) .



The paintings we looked at this week were again based heavily on Christianity - many of the works considered the life of Jesus from the nativity to the crucifixion (see one below).

Sainsbury Wing - lots of paintings

What I did after the group dispersed was take a sneaky look at what we're likely to encounter soon - in fact less than a 100 years after some of the work we'd seen paintings were often made using oil based paints and on canvas (rather than tempera paint on wood).



What we're going to see is perspective and the depiction of character- it's going to be good.

Virgin and Child enthroned -Margarito of Arezzo (1260's) - 

Photographers' Gallery

On Thursday I had the chance to make a couple of introductory group talks at the (recently re-branded) Museum of Brands.

The Museum of Brands -A new style and use of fonts

I enjoyed chatting with people from U3A and as well as delivering the welcome to folks from  'Evergreen' spending some chat as we walked through The Time Tunnel.

[Incidentally interested to see that many Museums and other leisure activities are starting to roll back concessions/discounts aimed at 'Seniors' - perhaps some justification as many are well able to afford the full price more than younger folks.]

In the gap between my two 'welcomes' I went along to The Photographers' Gallery - a nice split between the full on documentary (and of course Black and White)  work of the late Tish Murtha and the 'Hollywood gloss of Alex Prager.

Elswick Kids by Tish 

Alex Prager's work often has a Hitchcock-ian dimension

Nick Pearson holds forth at OPEN Ealing

At OPEN Ealing/Orchard Café this Monday and the previous one too with John Kaye.

Nick Pearson  presents 

October sun on The National 

Nick Pearson talking us through some key features of Monet and  the previous week Manet, two rather marvellous French artists .








As I was at National Gallery this morning (and what a lovely morning)  this gave me the chance to take a look at some of Claude's work - I did say that I thought (like Wittgenstein) there's an early and late - late being where he did a lot of paintings in his garden

I was taken by how Nick's close-ups revealed the technique Monet used and also liked seeing some of the work he undertook in London.

Bathers at La Grenouillére (1869)

One of Monet's Gare St Lazare  (1877) paintings  

The Thames Below Westminster (1871)

Water Lily Pond (1899)